Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-07
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
What Capt. Griffin Says of the Items OF
Appropriation i'm the District Bill.


ment OF the District government, said to a STAR
reporter to-day, in regard to published statement
that owing to the peculiar manner in which the
District appropriation bill is drawn regarding the
improvement OF Streets some ga, 600 actually APP
propated is not needed for the purpose stipulated
and is unavailable for any other purpose:
81 have noticed some OF the alleged peculiar
point in reference to the subject which is not APP
preciated. The bill says, for the improvement OF
streets and avenues named In the schedule pre-
pared by the Commissioners. This is specific, but
1t does declare that the expenditure OF the ap
preparation shall be restricted to the amounts eS-
timated by the Commissioners. These estimates
simply approximate and cannot be absolute. ON
certain OF the streets the estimate was Tor gravel
road but the surplus might wen be used In laying
pavement OF asphalt or other material Now the
law says that not more than So per square yard
be expended in improving the Streets but If you
look at the estimates OF the commissioners you
is Is to s. per square yard This you will UNDER
stand, is occasioned where In paving q street the
then the cost Of labor inspection, and many ot6eE
necessary details viii run the actual cost
of paving the street to the amount / have
for the Improvement OF streets in the northeast
section the grading OF certain OF the streets may
have been all that was proposed by the Commits
SiOnerS, whereas II the appropriation is greater
than the amount asked for grading, the surplus
may be expended in paving the streets. For the
northwest section S140 600 was given, but this In
cIudeS the Improvement OF New Jersey avenue
from NJ street to the Boundary. This we have
carefully estimated, will require at least
$4,000. Subtract this amount from the principal
Observe now that the Commissioners estimated
that $50, OO0 was necessary for that work. De-
duct the amount $97, 600 from that sum and it
leaves $4,000, which win have to be cut OH from
the proposed Improvements in that section"
''The terms Of the bill as drawn, said Capt
Griffin in conclusion, lido not say that the Com
miSSiOners must stick to their estimates In expend
ing the amount appropriated"
COMMISSIONERS WEBB AND wHEATLEY
were asked by STAR reporterif, when an amount
given them by Congress for street improvement
purposes is greater than the amount estimated by
them, they can expend the surplus In laying q
more expensive pavement.
''No," replied MI. Webb, 81 don't think we can.
We generally estimate pretty closely, and II we
were to spend more than 50 per square yard on
the streets, when we filed our account with the
right we spent more than we believed necessary"
fsIf we asked for grading, interpOsed Mr. Wheat
ley, grading 1t must be, and nothing else" The
Commissioners think that the bill as drawn Is
PERFECT MIDDLE.
AS an instance, Commissioner Wheatley said:
"Here they have given certain sum for the Inn
provement OF the old Hnacostia river road This
Is evidently mistake. The road asked for was to
have been extended from the new bridge to Suit
land. This they overlooked, and instead they re-
knowledge, no one has asked any improvement.
The Commissioners criticise Chairman Wilson,
of the House conference committee, In assuming
that they are not TO be trusted In the expenditure
trartly directing that such funds appropriated
must be spent In certain way, but congratulate
themselves on the fact that II any complications
iates to the Improvements OF the streets, tue peo-
Die OF WaahinGtOn cannot charge the Commits
soners with disregard OF the public welfare.